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AUTHOR: 


TITLE: 


SOCIETY  FOR 
ETHICAL  CULTURE 


m    m 


PLACE: 


t 


.  LOUIS 


DA  TE : 


1893 


Restrictions  on  Use: 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 
PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 

RTnT.TOGRAPHIC  MICROFORM  TARGET 


Master  Negative  U 


Original  Material  as  Filmed  -  Existing  Bibliographic  Record 


/^ 


170 
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V.    Z 


Soci'^y  for  et'iical  culture  of  3t.    I^nis. 

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Ethical  Society 


OF  St.  Louis. 


WHAT  IT  IS  AND  ITS  WORK. 


ST.  LOUIS: 

NIXON-JONES  PRINTING  CO. 

1893. 


^ 


"if 


I 


Ethical  Society:  St.  Itouis. 


SUNDAY  SERVICES  H  a.  m.,  at  Memorial  Hall  of  the  Art  Institute  with 
an  Address  by  the  Lecturer. 

ETHICAL  SUNDAY  SCHOOL.  —  Sundays  10  a.  ra.,  for  giving  moral  in- 
struction to  the  young.     At  the  Guild  Room  of  the  Art  Institute. 

POLITICAL  SCIENCE  CLUB.  — For  young  men.  To  study  and  discuss 
subjects  connected  with  Economic  and  Political  Science.  Meetings 
on  alternate  Wednesday  evenings. 

GREEK  ETHICS  CLUB.  — For  young  women.  To  study  ethical  litera- 
ture with  reference  to  moral  issues  of  our  own  day.  Meets  on  alter- 
nate Wednesday  afternoons. 

DOMESTIC  ECONOMY  SCHOOLS. 

To  teach  the  Elements  of  Housekeeping  to  young  girls,  daughters  of  arti- 
sans and  wage-earning  families.  Four  schools.  Meeting  Saturdays 
at  two  sections  of  the  city.     About  200  pupils. 

SELF-CULTURE  CLUBS. 

To  give  opportunities  for  higher  self-culture  to  wage-earners 
and  their  families.     About  300  members. 

YOUNG  WOMENS'  BRANCH  at  North  and  South  Side  with  lectures  every 
Thursday  or  Friday  evening  and  a  Study  Club  every  Monday  or 
Tuesday  evening. 

YOUNG  MEN'S  BRANCH  with  Lectures  every  Friday  or  Thursday 
evening.     A  class  for  study  of  Civil  Government  Tuesday  evenings, 


and  Debating  Clubs  Monday  Evenings. 

STATIONARY  ENGINEERS  BROTHERHOOD  BRANCH. 

Thursday  of  each  month. 


Lectures  on 


LE  CLAIRE,    ILLINOIS,    BRANCH.  —  Lectures    Tuesdays,   twice    each 
mouth. 

SELF-CULTURE  HALL. 

At  1730  Wash  street.    E,  N.  Plank,  Director. 

The  Headquarters  of  these  Clubs,  with  Gymnasium,  Baths,  Library,  Free 

Reading  Room  and  Lecture  Hall.     Open  every  evening  and  all  day 

Sunday.     2004^  South  Broadway,  Free  Reading  Rooms. 

POPULAR    SCIENCE    LECTURE    COURSES. 

Four  Sundav  afternoons  at  the  Grand  Ooera  House. 


THE   SOCIETY   FOR    ETHICAL   CULTURE 

OF   ST.  LOUIS. 


LECTURER 


W.  L.  SHELDON, 


EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE. 


ADAM  BOECK, 
CHAS.  E.  BRADLEY, 
PAUL   F.  COSTE, 
A.  G.  FISH, 
AUGUST  GEHNER, 
PHILIP   GRUNER, 


C.  fir.  HUTTIGy 
ADOLPH  MOLL, 
ROBERT  MOORE, 
N.  0.  NELSON, 
JOSEPH  S.   TAUSSIG. 
JAMES    TAUSSIG, 


Chairman:   ROBERT  MOORE. 

Associate  Lecturer,  to  have  charge  of  the  practical  loork  and 

superintendence  of  the  Self-Culture  Clubs,        -        -        E.  N.  PLANK. 

Superintendent  of  the  Domestic  Economy  Schools    -   MRS.  W.  E,  FISCHEL 


Librarian,  to  have  charge  of  the  publications  of  the  Society, 

WM.  A.  BRANDENBURGER. 


Communications,  icith  reference  to  the  loork  of  the  Ethical  Society,  can  be 
addressed  to  the  Secretary,  PAUL   F.  COSTE,  ESQ., 

421   Olive  Street. 


THE    ETHICAL   SOCIETY 

What  It  Is  and  Its  Work. 


-• — -♦- — »- 


It  has  been  asked  again  and  again,  what  is  the  Ethical  Society? 
what  does  it  stand  for  ?  what  kind  of  work  is  it  seeking  to  accom- 
plish? what  attitude  does  it  take  toward  the  enterprises  which  have 
been  started  under  its  auspices  ?  what  does  it  hope  to  become  in  St. 
Louis?  It  is  intended  in  a  brief  way  to  give  an  answer  to  these 
queries  by  presenting  a  short  account  of  the  undertakings  initiated 
by  the  Society,  and  by  offering  a  sketch  of  its  history  and  growth  in 
this  city. 

The  Ethical  Society  of  St.  Louis  was  organized  seven  years  ago. 
It  adopted  for  a  statement  of  principles  one  sentence,  which  was 
made  its  Constitution : 

"  It  is  our  desire  and  purpose  to  aid  in  developing,  apart  ^rom  the 
churches,  a  new  movement,  which  shall  aim  to  put  morality  into  the 
foreground  in  religion,  and  shall  rest  upon  a  basis  of  ethics,  inde- 
pendent of  theology.*' 

It  was  not  intended  to  place  the  Society  in  antagonism  to  other 
institutions.  But  it  was  felt  that  there  was  a  positive  need  and  de- 
mand for  this  kind  of  work  in  the  city.  The  public  was  invited  to 
join  and  support  it,  "  irrespective  of  any  person's  religious  beliefs." 
Within  the  last  few  years  a  tendency  has  been  manifest  all  over  the 
world  to  lay  greater  stress  on  the  ethical  aspect  of  life,  both  with 
reference  to  personal  character,  as  well  as  with  reference  to  commer- 
cial, social  and  political  institutions.  It  was  believed  by  many  peo- 
ple that  the  emphasis  on  religious  teaching  had  been  too  much  on  one 
side,  and  that  it  was  essential  that  there  should  be  a  new  movement 
which  should  seek  to  shift  enthusiasm  more  in  the  direction  of  the 
moral  life. 


At  the  same  time  it  was  not  to  be  merely  a  secular  society,  like  a 
multitude  of  reform  movements  that  spring  up  from  time  to  time, 
in  order  to  urge  special  measures  for  the  improvement  of  society. 
This  effort,  on  the  other  hand,  was  to  take  its  root  in  the  deepest 
moral  and  religious  instincts  of  the  human  heart.  It  was  to  work  on 
the  motives  of  men  rather  than  their  beliefs ;  to  awaken  higher  pur- 
poses and  loftier  aims,  rather  than  to  establish  any  particular  theory 
of  reform.  It  was  to  stir  men  into  practical  measures  for  helping 
others,  and  for  developing  a  higher  life  among  themselves.  For  this 
reason  it  looks  upon  itself  as  a  religious  society,  although  not  as  a 
Church. 

THE  LECTURESHIP. 

As  soon  as  the  Society  was  organized  and  incorporated,  it  was  felt 
that  in  order  to  give  the  movement  permanence  in  the  city,  it  would 
be  essential  to  have  one  or  more  men,  chosen  for  the  purpose,  wiio 
could  devote  their  whole  time  and  attention  to  such  work.  It  was 
also  looked  upon  as  important  that  the  person  elected  for  that 
position  should  have  had  the  special  training  or  education  which 
would  qualify  him  for  that  kind  of  leadership.  The  Society  there- 
fore chose  for  its  lecturer,  Mr.  W.  L.  Sheldon,  who  had  been  for 
two  years  at  work  as  a  student  and  helper  with  the  Ethical  Society 
of  New  York  City.  In  his  position  as  lecturer  he  has  been  contin- 
ued ever  since  the  birth  of  our  Society.  To  its  aims  he  has  suc- 
cessfully devoted  all  his  faculties  and  energy.  To  him  belongs  and 
is  sincerely  given  the  credit  for  suggesting,  organizing,  and,  to  a 
great  extent,  conducting  the  work  of  the  Society  as  described  in  the 
following  pages  from  data  supplied  by  him  and  his  assistants  in 
reports  made  at  the  last  annual  meeting. 

THE  WORK  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

What  the  Ethical  Society  has  been  endeavoring  to  accomplish 
during  this  time  has  been  of  a  most  varied  character.  Its  work, 
however,  may  be  divided  into  six  departments : 

1.  The  Sunday  Morning  Service  and  address  at  Memorial  Hall. 


2.  The  Sunday  Morning  School  for  the  vouno-. 

3.  Clubs  organized  among  young  men  and  young  women  for  a 
study  and  discussion  in  the  various  subjects  connected  with  ethics. 

4.  Self-culture  Clubs,  in  the  direction  of  educational  efforts 
among  the  wage-earning  class  cf  the  city. 

5.  Domestic  Economy  Schools,  started  for  the  purpose  of  teach- 
ing all  the  elements  of  house-keeping  among  the  young  girls  who  are 
the  daughters  of  working  people. 

6.  Sunday  Afternoon  Popular  Science  Lecture  Courses,  a 
special  reform  movement  of  educational  effort  inaugurated  during 
the  past  year. 

THE  SUNDAY  MORNING  DISCOURSES. 

The  Society  in  St.  Louis  has  always  laid  its  chief  stress  on  the 
service  on  Sunday  morning.  It  was  assumed  that  a  service  of  this 
kind  could  be  held  that  might  be  religious  without  teaching  dogma, 
and  elevate  the  mind  without  demanding  acceptance  to  any  particu- 
lar doctrine. 

The  Sunday  morning  exercises  have  always  been  quite  simple  in 
form.  They  usually  consist  of  short  readings  from  ethical  literature, 
taken  as  selections  from  the  poets,  essayists,  and  philosophers  of 
all  nationalities,  including  the  ancient  Scriptures  of  the  East.  Then 
there  is  an  organ  recital  and  two  or  three  songs  appropriate  to  the 
occasion.  But  the  chief  feature  of  the  day  is  the  discourse  by  the 
lecturer. 

What  mainly  distinguishes  the  Society  from  the  church,  is  the 
class  of  subjects  treated  in  the  addresses.  The  lecturer  has  sought 
to  keep  exclusively  within  the  sphere  of  ethics  and  to  make  that  the 
line  of  his  religious  effort  and  teaching.  He  does  not  define  his 
views  on  theology.  He  has  not  sought  to  have  people  accept  his 
special  opinions  on  leading  questions.  His  aim  has  been  rather  to 
stir  men  to  think  for  themselves,  and  more  than  anything  else  to  view 
life  from  a  moral  stand-point.  As  an  illustration  of  the  discourses 
on  Sunday  morning  the  subjects  are  given  for  the  last  two  years: 


—  6  — 


SUNDAY  MORNING  DISCOURSES. 

*'  The  Influence  of  James  Russell  Lowell." 
"  What  makes  Life  worth  Living?  " 

"  The  Power  and  the  Weakness  of  Example." 
"  The  Ethics  of  Buddhism." 

<♦ '  The  Light  of  Asia,'  of  Edwin  Arnold." 

•'  Thoughts  suggested  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Jay  Gould." 

"  The  Reform  spirit  among  the  Labor  Leaders  and  the  Working  Classes." 
"  Lessons  from  the  plays  of  Ibsen." 

*'  What  is  the  Best  Way  to  Try  and  Improve  the  World?  " 

*'  The  Moral  and  Religious  Influence  of  Germany  on  this 
Country." 
'«  The  Views  of  Life  held  by  George  Eliot." 

"  Is  there  anything  better  than  Happiness?  " 

*'  The  Reforms  that  all  Good  Men  can  Agree  About." 
''  The  Life  and  Thought  of  Benedict  Spinoza." 
*'  What  is  the  Best  Way  to  keep  Sunday?  " 
"An  American  Religion." 

"The  Influence  of  Plato." 

"  What  have  we  left  to  cling  to  in  Religion?  " 

''  The  Fall  of  Man." 

"  The  American  Young  Manhood  and  Young  Womanhood  of  the  Coming 
Century." 
"  What  is  True  Culture?  " 

"  Lessons  from  the  Poet  Shelley." 

"John  Marshall  and  his  work  as  applied  to  Present  Con- 
ditions." 


"  Nature  and  Nature's  God." 
"  The  Future  of  the  Bible." 

"  The  Ethics  of  Ancient  Greece." 
"The  Future  of  Religion." 

"  The  Ethical  inspect  of  a  Belief  in  Immortality." 


—  7 


"  In  what  spirit  should  we  celebrate  the  Four  Hundredth   Anniversary  of 
the  Landing  of  Columbus?  " 
"  What  is  True  Love  of  Country?  " 

"  The  Life  and  Influence  of  Daniel  Webster." 
"Every-Day  Ethics." 

"  The  Religion  and  Views  of  Life  held  by  the  Poet  Tenny- 
*  son." 


"  Is  the  Human  Will  Free;  Can  a  Man  do  as  he  Pleases?  " 
"Thoughts  about  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning." 

"  What  is  True  Heroism?  — an  Address  to  Young  Men." 

"  What  we  Aim  and  Hope  to  be  —  a  Service  for  the  Young." 
"  The  Advancement  of  Women." 

"  What  is  the  Significance  of  Pessimism?  " 

"  Thoughts  on  the  Life  and  Character  of  Robert  Burns." 
"  What  is  a  Right  Action?  " 

"An  Ethical  Sermon  on  Sir  Thomas  More." 
"Life  among  the  Poor  and  Lowly." 

"  Thoughts  on  Shakespeare's  Hamlet." 

"Natural  Science,  or  the  Study  of  Nature  as  an  Influence  on  the  Feel- 
ings and  Character." 
"John  Greenleaf  Whittier." 

"  What  Justifies  Private  Property?  " 

"The  Most  Perfect  Picture  of  a  Working  Man  to  be 
found  in  Modern  Literature." 


"  The  Public  Neglect  of  Criminal  Law." 

"  The  Relation  of  the  State  to  Private  Property." 

"  To  what  extent  should  the  State  help  the  Working  Class  through 
special  Legislation?  " 
"  What  is  Conscience?  " 

"  Reflections  on  the  Influence  and  Character  of  Abraham 
Lincoln." 
"The    Origin    and    Significance  of  the    Stoic 
Philosophy." 
"  The  Greatest  of  all  the  Stoics,  Marcus 
Aurelius." 


—  8  — 

The  main  portion  of  these  discourses  has  been  friven  by  the  regu- 
lar lecturer  of  the  Society.     It  was  not   intended,  however,  that  he 
should  be  the  only  one  to  speak  on  Sunday  mornings.     The  aim  has 
been  to  have  the  lecturers,  as  far  as  possible,  come  once  a  year  from 
the  Societies  elsewhere  in  other  cities,  and  take  the  })latform  here  in 
St.  Louis.     Furthermore,  the  lecturer  has  sought  to  have  individuals 
from  this  or  other  cities  who  might  be  considered  especially  com- 
petent to  treat  of  subjects  in  some  one  particular  line  of  practical 
ethics,    to   give   the   discourse    on   Sunday    morning.     Beside   the 
regular  lecturer,  therefore,  the  platform   during  the  last  two  years 
has  been  occupied   by  men  of  St.  Louis,  such  as  Mr.  Chas.  Nagel, 
Mr.  N.  O.  Nelson,  Mr.  William  Schuyler,  Mr.  Thos.  Dimmock,  Mr. 
J.  C.  Learned,  Rev.  Sam'l  Sale.     From  other  cities  there  have  been 
lecturers,  such  as,  Prof.  Frank  W.  Taussig,  of  Harvard  University ; 
Dr.    Stanton  Coit,   of    London,  Eng.  ;  Mr.    M.     M.   Mangasarian, 
of  Chicago ;  Mr.  W.    M.   Salter,  of  Philadelphia,  and    Prof.  Fehx 
Adler,  of  New  York  City. 

Those  who  have  listened  to  these  lectures  will  probably  all  testify 
that  however  varied  the  theme  may  have  been,  the  purpose  alwaj^s 
was  to  stir  the  people  to  care  for  a  higher  ethical  standard.  The 
Society  does  not  teach  or  advocate  any  particular  theory  of 
morality.  It  does  not  commit  itself  to  any  special  view  or 
method  of  solving  the  difficulties  of  the  social  problem.  As  a  so- 
ciety it  does  not  declare  itself  in  favor  of  any  one  view  or  move- 
ment or  reform.  But  it  strives  rather,  by  agitating  such  questions 
among  the  public,  to  induce  people  to  think  more  about  them, 
and  to  persuade  men  to  devote  themselves  more  truly  and  earnestly 
to  reform  efforts,  both  in  themselves  as  well  as  in  society,  the  city, 
and  the  nation.  It  asks  and  urges  that  men  shall  not  live  for  their 
own  selfish  interests,  but  strive  to  improve  their  own  life  and  charac- 
ter, to  refine  their  own  natures,  and  to  do  something  toward  what 
they  believe  to  be  the  improvement  of  the  world. 


—  9  -^ 

THE  ETHICAL  SUNDAY  SCHOOL. 

It  was  regarded  as  of  great  importance  from  the  very  beginning 
of  the  work  in  St.   Louis,  that    there  should  be  a  plan  of  moral 
teaching  arranged  for  the  young,  to  instruct  them  in  the  practical 
duties  of  life.     There  has  been  developed,  therefore,  a  special  school 
which  is  held  on  Sunday  morning,  an  hour  before  the  regular  dis- 
course given  under  tiie  auspices  of  the  Society.     There  are  several 
classes  arranged  according  to  the  age  of  the  children.     They  study 
the  Bible  stories,  and  the  moral  tales  selected  from  other  literatures ; 
but  the  peculiar  character  of  that  study  is  in  that  they  read  the  stories 
not  for  the  sake  of  learning  the  facts,  but  mainly  for  the  purpose 
of  whatever  moral  lesson  can  be  discovered  there.     Then  there  are 
classes  for  older  children,  boys  and  girls,  which  takes  up  the  practical 
duties  of  life.     An  outline  has  been  made  by  the  various  lecturers, 
classifying  the  duties.     An  effort  is  made  to  analyze  the  motives 
which  tempt  people  to  wrong  action,  and  on  the  other  hand,  to  point 
out  the  best  way  to    try  and   improve  one's  personal   character. 
There  is  also  an  adult  class  of  young  men  and  young  women,  which 
has  this  last  year  devoted  itself  to  the  study  of  some  of  the  essays 
of  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson. 

POLITICAL  SCIENCE  CLUB. 

The  Ethical  Society  does  not  confine  itself,  however,  to  the 
Sunday  morning  school  or  the  Sunday  morning  discourse.  It 
desires  that  men  and  women  should  think  and  work  for  themselves 
on  these  subjects.  It  is  believed  that  young  men  and  young  women 
would  find  it  of  great  value  and  help  to  themselves,  if  only  they 
would  devote  some  of  their  leisure  to  reading  and  studying  the 
moral  aspects  in  questions  of  the  day  or  in  past  ethical  literal;ure. 
For  this  reason  the  Society  has  organized  clubs  to  meet  during  the 
week,  for  persons  who  might  come  together  to  discuss  and  investigate 
these  questions  for  themselves.  The  problems  of  morality  are  studied 
in  this  way,  both  historically  and  with  reference  to  our  own  times. 


—  10  — 


—  li- 


lt has  been  found  more  advantageous,  however,  to  have  two  sepa- 
rate clubs,  which  should  meet  fortnightly,  the  one  for  young  men, 
and  the  other  for  the  women  of  St.  Louis.  It  was  discovered  that 
young  men  are  more  interested  in  grappling  with  questions  of  the 
day,  or  with  subjects  connected  with  business  life  and  the  State.  A 
Political  Science  Club  has  therefore  been  organized  for  young  men. 
They  take  up  questions  connected  with  ethics  in  its  relation  to  polit- 
ical and  economic  science.  The  work  at  the  meeting  is  done  largely 
by  discussion ;  but  the  plan  is  that  they  should  have  done  previous 
reading  on  the  topic  for  the  evening.  It  is  probable  that  they  will 
soon  start  a  library  of  literature  in  this  one  special  direction,  secur- 
ing the  leading  writings  of  great  thinkers  of  past  times  and  of  our  own 
day,  such  as  Aristotle,  Hobbes,  Locke,  Bentham,  Maine,  Schaefle, 
Bluntschli,  Wagner,  Roscher,  Bagehot,  Amos,  Burgess,  John  Stuart 
Mill,  Sidgwick,  Marshall,  Herbert  Spencer  and  others. 

As  an  illustration  of  what  they  have  been  doing,  the  list  of 
subjects  they  have  discussed  this  last  season  is  given. 


Some  of  the  young  men  have  done  a  great  deal  of  reading  in  con- 
nection with  these  discussions. 

It  is  planned  for  another  year  to  arrange  a  course  of  lectures,  giv- 
ing the  outlines  of  Political  Economy.  Many  young  men  who  may 
not  have  had  the  advantages  of  university  education,  feel  a  need  of  a 
more  intimate  acquaintance  with  what  is  now  becoming  the  leading 
science  of  the  day.  In  connection  with  this  course  of  lectures,  an 
effort  will  be  made  also  to  have,  once  a  month,  an  informal  dis- 
course by  one  of  the  principal  lawyers  of  the  city  on  some  important 
topic  of  Political  Science.  It  is  designed  after  each  talk  or  lecture, 
that  there  should  be  a  most  active  discussion.  A  plan  or  course 
of  reading  will  be  arranged  and  given  out  for  the  season. 

This  class  of  work  has  been  especially  selected  for  young  men, 
because  Political  Science  and  Economics  constitute  the  sphere  where 
ethics  touches  most  closely  on  the  questions  of  the  day. 


POLITICAL  SCIENCE  CLUB. 

SUBJECTS   DISCUSSED   THIS   SEASOX. 

**  What  do  we  mean  by  the  State?  " 
"Theories  of  the  State  given  by  leading  writers  of  Political  Science." 
*'  The  Origin  of  the  State:  Beginnings  of  Organized  Society." 
"  Slavery:  Its  Origin  and  the  Service  it  has  rendered  in  History." 
'♦  War:  Its  Causes,  Basis  and  Justification." 
*'  The  Origin  of  Private  Property." 

**  Can  yve  Justify  Private  Property?  " 

"  Has  the  State  absolute  Right  over  Private  Property?  " 

"Should  Immigration  be  restricted?     The  History  of  Immigration." 
"  If  Immigration  is  to  be  restricted,  what  Method  shall  be  adopted?  " 
'*  Would  it  ever  be  right  to  resist  the  Authority  of  the  State?  " 
"Politi  1'      cience  and  what  it  should  Accomplish." 

This  club  will  resume  its  work  again  next  season.  A  complete  program 
for  the  winter  with  subjects  and  readings  will  be  arranged  and  given  out  in 
October,  1893. 


GREEK   ETHICS  CLUB. 

The  Women's  Club  in  ethics  has  been  of  another  kind.  It  has 
been  found  that  women  are  much  more  disposed  to  study  in  abstract 
lines,  than  the  young  men.  They  have  therefore  devoted  themselves 
more  especially  to  the  great  ethical  literature  of  antiquity.  Their 
club  has  now  been  in  existence  two  years.  The  first  season  they 
directed  their  attention  to  the  literature  of  Greece,  and  the  second  to 
the  literature  of  Rome.  The  list  of  subjects  which  they  have  stud- 
ied and  discussed  during  the  last  two  years  is  here  given : 


12 


GREEK  ETHICS. 

''^schylus  and  The  Prometheus  Bound." 
**  Sophocles  and  The  Antigone." 

•'  Euripides  and  The  Iphigenia." 

•'  The  Views  of  Virtue  as  held  by  Socrates." 
"Plato  and  his  Theory  of  Virtue." 
''The  Ethics  of  Aristotle." 

"The  Types  of  Character  in  Homer." 

"  Greek  Statesmanship  as  displayed  in  Pericles." 

"Ethical  Ideal  in  the  Gods  and  Goddesses  of  Greece." 

"  Greek  Architecture  and  Sculpture:  What  it  suggests  of  the 
Moral  Life  of  that  People." 
"  Ideas  of  Love  and  Friendship  in  Greece:  Their  Concep- 
tion of  Justice  and  Citizenship." 
"  Greek  Ideas  of  Woman  and  the  Family." 


ROMAN  ETHICS. 

SUBJECTS   DISCUSSED   THIS   LAST   SEASON. 

"  The  Influence  and  Character  of  Julius  Caesar." 
"  The  Age  of  Augustus:  Civilization  in  Rome." 

"  Lucretius  and  the  Epicureanism  of  the  Romans." 
*'  Cicero  and  the  Tusculan  Disputations." 

"  The  Teachings  or  Philosophy  of  Cicero." 

"The  Views  of  the  Stoics  on  Death  aud  Suici.le." 

"  The  Life  and  Teachings  of  the  Stoic,  Seneca." 

"  What  Constitutes  a  Happy  Life,  as  taught  l)y  Seneca." 
"The  Life  and  Teachings  of  Epictetus." 

"The  Stoics  compared  with  the  Cynics." 
"Marcus  Aurelius  Antoninus." 

"  The  Ethics  of  Neo-Platouism :  Hypatia." 

Next  fall  a  regular  program  of  subjects  with  readings  will  be  arranged  so 
as  to  continue  the  work  of  this  club  in  the  study  of  later  writers,  now  that 
they  have  concluded  their  discussions  on  the  ethieal  theories  of  Greece  and 
Rome. 


13  — 


This  club  does  not  work  purely  for  the  purpose  of  instruction. 
The  effort  is  invariably  made  to  apply  what  they  have  learned  out 
of  those  early  literatures,  to  their  own  life  at  the  present  day.  Their 
subject  is  not  so  much  ethical  theory,  as  Applied  Ethics.  They 
would  take,  for  example,  such  a  drama  as  "The  Antigone,"  of 
Sophocles.  An  analysis  is  made  of  the  various  characters  in  the 
play.  There  would  then  be  an  animated  debate  on  the  moral  issues 
involved  or  suggested  by  the  theme.  For  instance,  there  was  a 
stirring  debate  as  to  whether  Antigone  was  right  and  just  in  her 
attitude  of  defiance  toward  the  State.  Then  they  applied  the  subject 
to  their  own  lives,  and  it  brought  them  to  the  question:  "To  what 
extent  we  personally  would  be  right  in  defying  the  customs  and 
aws  of  society?  " 

It  is  probable  that  this  club  will  go  on  for  a  number  of  years. 
Now  that  they  have  concluded  their  study  of  the  ethics  of  Greece 
and  of  Rome,  they  may  devote  themselves  for  other  seasons  to  the 
later  great  thinkers,  such  as  Spinoza,  Leibnitz,  Kant,  Hume,  Scho- 
penhauer, and  so  down  to  the  writers  of  our  own  day.  A  great  deal 
of  reading  has  been  done  by  the  members  of  this  club.  They 
began  with  some  reluctance ;  but  they  have  come  to  look  upon  the 
method  as  being  a  great  help  to  them. 

The  lecturer,  who  acts  as  the  literary  leader  of  both  the  Greek 
Ethics  and  the  Political  Science  clubs,  does  not  try  in  either  case 
to  advocate  his  own  personal  views.  Oftentimes  he  refuses  to  give 
his  own  opinion.  He  endeavors  rather  to  spur  them  on  to  do  the 
reading  and  thinking  for  themselves. 


—  14  — 


WAGE-EARNERS'  SELF-CULTIRE  CLUBS. 

The  Ethical  Society  has  given  a  very  large  share  of  its  attention  to 
organizing  practical  educational  work  of  various  kinds  in  St.  Louis. 
One  of  the  first  measures  it  brought  forward  was  a  plan  for  helping 
to  break  down  the  barriers  between  the  social  classes.  It  was 
thought  that  there  was  one  point  where  we  could  all  meet  on  common 
ground,  and  that  was  in  the  effort  for  self-culture. 

With  this  idea  in  view  there  has  grown  up  in  the  city  an  institution 
of  importance  and  permanence,  known  as  the  Self-Culture  Clubs. 
The  first  step  taken  was  in  opening  some  free  reading  rooms  in 
two  separate  districts  of  the  city  occupied  almost  entirely  by  wage- 
earners.  Then  a  carefully  selected  library  was  placed  at  each  of 
these  centers  of  education.  As  soon  as  there  were  quite  a  number 
of  readers  who  came  regularly,  lecture  courses  were  inaugurated  ; 
then  later  on  study  clubs  were  formed  among  the  young  men. 
One  evening  a  week  at  each  location  was  set  apart  exclusively  for 
young  women.  A  separate  course  of  lectures  and  entertainments 
was  arranged  for  them.     They,  too,  formed  study  clubs  of  their  own. 

After  a  while  those  who  were  accustomed  to  go  to  the  rooms  for 
reading  or  the  lectures,  formed  themselves  into  Clubs  at  each  section 
of  the  city.  In  this  way  they  have  instituted  a  North  Side  and  a 
South  Side  Section  of  the  Young  Women's  Self-Culture  Clubs,  and 
a  North  Side  and  a  South  Side  Section  of  the  Young  Men's  Self- 
Culture  Clubs. 

Later  on  other  lecture  courses  of  a  similar  kind  were  started  else- 
where. The  Stationary  Engineers  Brotherhood  heard  of  the  work, 
and  asked  to  have  that  kind  of  a  lecture  course  arranged  for  them. 
They  set  apart  one  meeting  a  month  for  that  special  purpose.  After- 
wards a  club  of  this  kind  was  begun  at  the  new  manufacturing  town 
of  Leclaire,  111.  During  the  last  two  years  six  separate  lecture 
courses  have  been  carried  on   under  the  auspices  of    these  clubs. 


15  — 


They  have  been  able  to  secure  the  best  literary  talent  of  the  city. 
The  teachers  in  the  public  schools,  the  clergy,  and  the  professors  at 
the  Washington  University,  have  all  cordially  given  their  services 
and  aided  most  heartily  in  the  work. 

As  an  illustration  of  what  these  various  clubs  have  been  trying  to 
do,  a  series  of  their  lecture  courses  is  given.  These  courses  are 
usually  printed  on  postal  cards  and  sent  out  to  the  members.  We 
give,  therefore,  four  samples  of  such  postal  cards  as  they  have 
been  issued  to  four  of  the  clubs. 


—  16  — 


17 


\\ 


YOUNG    mp:n's    self-culture 

CLUB. 

North  Sidk  Section. 

Free   Reading   Rooms,  1532   Franklin 
Avenue. 


Spring  Lecture  Course,  1890. 


Friday  Evenings  at  8  p.  m. 


Feb.  7. 
Feb.  14. 
Feb.  21. 


Jan.  24.     The  Wonders  of  Heat, 

Prof.  G.  W.  Krall. 
Jan.  31.     Gustavus  Adolphus,  and  tlie 
Battle  of  Luetzen, 

Prof  J.  K.  Hosmp.r. 
Books,  their  Value  and  Influ- 
ence,      Mr.  M.  J.  Gilbert. 
Robert  Burns, 

Mr.  Thos.  Dimmock. 
Literature,  and  How  to  Read, 
Eev.  Dr.  G.  E.  Martin. 
Feb.  28.     Longfellow    Entertainment, 
Music,    Reading,     Stere- 
opticon  Views,  etc. 
Mar.    7.     A  Study   in  American    His- 
tory.    The  Monroe  Doc- 
trine,       Mr.  J.  F.  Davis. 
Andrew  Jackson, 

Chas.  Nngel,  Esq. 
A  Talk  on  Steam  Engineer- 
ing and  Machinerv, 

Prof.  H.  B.  Gale. 
A  Journey  in   Holland  and 
Belgium  (Illustrated), 

Prof.  M.  S.  Snow. 
The  Wonderful  Story  of  Coal, 
Prof.  P.  B.  Potter. 
Apr.  11.     Humorous,     and     Dramatic 
Readiue, 

Mr.  F.  M.  Crunden. 

Apr.  18.     Wonders  of  the  Microscope, 

Prof.  H.  M.  Whelpley. 

Apr.  25.     Experiments  in   Chemistry, 

Prof.  J.  C.  Falk. 
May    2.     Captains  of  Industrv, 

Prof  G.  iV.  Krall. 
May    9.     Salt  Lake  Ciiy  and  the  Mor- 


Mar.  14. 
Mar.  21. 

Mar.  28. 

Apr.  4. 


mons. 


YOUNG   MEN'S  SELF-CULTURE 
CLUB. 

South  Side  Section. 

Free   Reading    Rooms,    2004^    South 
Broadway. 


Spring  Lecture  Course,  1890. 

Thursday  Evenings  at  8  p.  m. 


Mr.  E.  N.  Plank. 


Jan.  23.     Formation  of  Coal, 

Prof.  H.  C.  Wheeler. 
Jan.  30.     Incidents     of      Travels      in 
Spain, 

Prof.  II.  C.  Ives. 
Feb.   G.     In  the  Heart  of  Russia  (Il- 
lustrated), 

Prof.  M.  S.  Snow. 
Feb.  13.     Robert  Fulton, 

Prof.  CM.  IVoodicard. 

Feb.  20.  Pictures  of  Southern  Italy 
and  Pompeii, 

Mr.  W.  L.  Sheldon. 

Feb.  27.     George  Stevenson, 

Prof.  C.  M.  Woodward. 

Mar.  6.  Longfellow  Entertainment, 
Music,  Reading,  Stere- 
opticon  Views,  etc. 

Mar.  13.     Captains  of  Industrv, 

Prof.  G.  W.  Krall. 

Mar.  20.     How  to  Build  a  House, 

Mr.  W.  S.  Eames. 

Mar.  27.  Humorous  and  Dramatic 
Reading, 

Mr.  F.  M.  Crunden. 
Apr.    3.     Northern  Italy  Illustrated, 

Mr.  W.  L.  Sheldon. 
xVpr.  10.     Experiments  in  Chemistrv, 

Prof.  J.  C.  Falk. 
Apr.  17.     Andrew  Jackson, 

Chas.  Nagelj  Esq. 

Apr.  24.  Literature,  and  How  to 
R-ad, 

Rev.  Dr.  Martin. 
May    1.     Jaraes  A.  Garfield, 

Mr.  E.  N.  Plank. 


Jan. 

23. 

Jan. 

30. 

Feb. 

6. 

Feb. 

13. 

Feb. 

20. 

Feb. 

27. 

Mar. 

,    6. 

Mar. 

,13. 

Mar. 

,20. 

YOUNG  WOMEN'S  SELF-CULTURE 
CLUB. 

Free  Lecture  Course  and   Entertain- 
ments every  Friday  Evening 
at  8  p.  M. 

2004i  South  Broadway    -     St.  Louis. 

Jan.  16.     Views  of  American  Scenery, 

Mr.  E.  N.  Plank,  Jr. 
Whittier  Entertainment,  Mu- 
sic, Readingii,  Essays,  etc. 
Our  Government, 

Mr.  E.  N.  Plank.  Jr. 
Pictures  of  Germany, 

Prof.  James  K.  Ilosmer. 
Tennyson  Entertainment, 

By  Members  of  the  Club. 
Wonders  of  the  Microscope, 
Dr.  H.  M.  Whelpley. 
Pictures  of  Switzerland, 

Mr.  W.  L.  Sheldon. 
Life  in  Wyoming, 

By  a  Resident  of  Cheyenne. 

Wordsworth  Entertainment, 

By  the  Club. 

Life    and    Selections    from 

Hawthorn. 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Learned. 
Pictures  of  Paris, 

Mr.  Lefkoic. 
Life     and    Selections    from 
Music  of  Mendelssohn, 

Mrs.  Edward  Meyer. 
A   Trip  through  the  North- 
west (Illustrated), 

Mr.  E.  N.  Plank,  Jr. 
Goldsmith      Entertainment, 
Music,      Readings,      Es- 
says, etc. 
Mrs.  Browning, 

Mr.  J.  B.  Merwin. 
Views  of  New  York  City, 

Mr.  E.  N.  Plank,  Jr. 
Lowell  Entertainment, 

Miss  Emma  31eyers. 
Famous  American  AVoraen, 
Mrs.  L.  D.  Ilildenbrandt. 

Come  and  bring  your  friends.  The  lect- 
ures and  entertainments  will  close  at  9 
o'clock  and  tiie  reading  class  will  continue 
for  three  quarters  of  an  hour  the  study  of 
the  plays  of  Shakespeare.  Every  evening 
there  will  be  some  musical  programme. 


Mar.  27. 
Apr.   3. 

Apr.  10. 

Apr.  17. 

Apr.  24. 
May  1. 
May  8. 
May  15. 


YOUNG  WOMEN'S  SELF-CULTURE 
CLUB. 

Every  Thursday  Evening,  at  8. 
Self-Culture  Hall,  1730  Wash  Street. 


Feb.    2. 

Feb.    9. 

Feb.  IG. 
Feb.  23. 

Mar.   2. 

Mar.   9. 
Mar.  IG. 

Mar.  23. 

Mar.  30. 

Apr.    6. 

Apr.  13. 


The  Beginning  of  England, 
Mr.  E.  N.  Plank. 

The  Making  of  England, 

Mr.  E.  N.  Plank. 

The  Age  of  Elizabeth, 

Mr.  E.  N.  Plank. 

Lowell  Evening, 

The  Club. 

Haunts  of  Sir  Walter  Scott, 
Mr.  W.  L.  Sheldon. 

The  Ounce  of  Prevention, 

Dr.  Ella  Marx. 

Entertainment, 

M7's.  C.  H.  Stone. 

A  Stitch  in  Time, 

Dr.  Ella  Marx. 


Holmes  Evening, 


The  Club. 


The  Reign  of  the  Stuarts, 

Mr.  E.  N.  Plank. 

England    During  the   Com- 
monwealth, 

Mr.  E.  N.  Plank. 
Apr.  20.     The   Development    of     En- 


land, 


Mr.  E.  N.  Plank. 


Apr.  27. 
May    4. 


The  Reign  of  Victoria, 

Mr.  E.  N.  Plank. 

Musical  and  Literary  Enter- 
tainment, 

Mrs.  M.  L.  Brewer. 


The  class  in  the  study  of  American 
History  meets  every  Monday  evening. 
The  Reading  Class  every  Tuesday 
evening. 


18  — 


—  19  — 


They  have  also  had  special  study  clubs  where  they  have  come 
together  and  taken  up  one  subject  for  the  whole  season.  A  number 
of  young  men  met  one  evening  a  week  during  the  winter  and  devoted 
themselves  to  the  subject  of  "  Civil  Government.'*  They  studied  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  the  management  of  public 
affairs  at  Washington.  Then  they  took  up  the  Charter  of  St.  Louis, 
and  learned  all  about  the  city  government.  Another  year  they 
devoted  themselves  to  the  subject  of  "  Biography."  They  took  up 
a  series  of  the  American  statesmen,  reading  the  lives  of  the  men 
and  devoting  a  part  of  the  evening  to  discussing  their  character  and 
what  each  one  of  those  statesmen  had  accomplished. 

The  young  women  in  the  same  way  have  done  special  work. 
Quite  a  number  of  them  have  given  one  evening  a  week  to  the  study 
of  **  Shakespeare."  They  have  had  a  leader  who  was  well  read  in 
those  dramas,  and  they  have  analyzed  the  characters  and  read  some 
of  the  plays  together.  Then  they  have  given  "Poet's  Evenings," 
at  the  regular  meetings  of  the  club.  It  is  probable  that  another 
year  educational  classes  in  a  practical  direction  will  be  organized  for 
the  members  of  these  Young  Women's  Clubs.  A  cooking  class  is 
already  in  view,  as  well  as  a  class  for  instruction  in  sewing.  Ulti- 
mately it  is  hoped  that  all  the  elements  of  housekeeping  and  home- 
making  can  be  included  in  the  class  work  of  the  Young  Women's 
Self-Culture  Clubs. 


SELF-CULTURE  HALL. 

As  an  outcome  of  these  various  educational  efforts  among  wage- 
earners,  it  was  decided  this  last  season  to  begin  the  experiment  of 
having  separate  buildings  set  apart  exclusively  for  the  purpose  of 
such  undertakings.  The  first  of  the  kind  was  opened  this  last  sea- 
son at  1730  Wash  street,  and  known  as  Self-Culture  Hall.  It 
has  a  library,  free  reading  room,  a  lecture  hall,  baths  and 
a  gymnasium.  The  director  of  self-culture  clubs  resides  in  the 
building.     It  has  been  made  the  headquarters  for  the  work  else- 


where in  St.  Louis.  The  reading  rooms  are  open  every  evening 
and  all  day  Sunday.  A  special  feature  in  this  year's  work  has  been 
a  debating  club  among  the  young  men.  They  have  met  on  Monday 
evenings  and  discussed  questions  of  the  day.  It  is  a  rule  with  the 
club  that  every  person  present  must  give  his  opinion.  A  principal 
of  one  of  the  public  schools  of  this  city  has  acted  as  leader  of  the 
debating  club.  They  choose  their  subjects  by  vote.  They  have 
not  only  carried  on  a  great  deal  of  discussion,  but  have  been  led 
more  and  more  to  a  use  of  the  magazines  and  periodicals  in  the 

reading  rooms. 

Among  the  subjects  they  have  discussed  have  been  such  questions 
as:  ''Sh'ould  the  Public  Library  be  made  Free?"  "Ought  Munici- 
pal Elections  to  be  Divorced  from  National  Party  Politics?" 
"Should  the  Education  of  Children  be  made  Compulsory?"  "Is 
the  Employment  of  Women  in  Stores,  Factories,  and  Workshops 
Deterimental  to  the  Best  Interests  of  Society?  "  "  Should  the  Right 
of  Suffrage  be  extended  to  Women?"  "Has  the  Invention  of 
Machinery  been  Advantgeous  to  Wage-Earners?"  "  Is  a  Protec- 
tive Tariff  Immoral?" 

Another  important  feature  inaugurated  by  these  clubs  has  been 
the  excursions  for  educational  purposes.  For  example,  they  have 
gone  several  times  with  a  guide  to  the  Art  Institute  and  been  shown 
the  sculpture  and  paintings  there  as  well  as  the  illustrations  of  in- 
dustrial skill.  Then,  too,  they  have  gone  together  on  visits  to  Shaw's 
Garden,  where  Prof.  Trelease  has  taken  special  pains  to  make  the 
occasion  instructive  to  the  club.  On  the  other  hand  they  have  been 
several  times  to  the  Washington  University  Astronomical  Observa- 
.  tory  where  Prof.  Piitchett  has  given  them  an  opportunity  to  look  at 
the  planets  and  stars  through  the  telescope. 

When  we  realize  how  mechanics  are  liable  to  waste  their  leisure, 
and  in  what  manner  young  men  usually  pass  their  evenings,  we 
can  appreciate  the  value  that  must  come  of   such  an  institution. 

As  the  young  men  and  young  women  on  the  South  Side  have 
shown  an  active  desire  for  a  similar  building  there,  it  is   probable 


—  20  — 

that  next  season  there  will  be  erected  a  South  Side  Self-Culture 
Hall.  This  will  also  be  equipped  with  reading  rooms,  library,  class 
room,  lecture  hall,  baths  and  a  gymnasium. 

Ultimately  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  there  will  be  five  or  six  Self- 
Culture  Halls  scattered  over  the  various  sections  of  St.  Louis. 
They  are  altogether  different  from  the  ordinary  athletic  club, 
debating  society,  or  trade  union.  The  gymnasium  is  only  an 
incidental  feature.  The  institution  exists  for  the  purpose  of  en- 
couraging wage-earners  to  care  more  for  general  self-culture.  The 
clubs  do  not  ever  take  any  organized  stand  with  reference  to  social 
or  political  questions.  They  may  discuss  that  class  of  subjects,  but 
their  aim  in  the  full  sense  of  the  term  is  general  self-culture. 

The  attitude  of  these  clubs  toward  religion  is  that  of  extreme 
neutrality/.  This  feature  separates  them  from  almost  all  such 
educational  institutions.  They  are  entirely  secular,  but  in  no  way 
anti-religious.  That  is  the  only  class  of  subjects  which  are  excluded 
from  the  Self-Culture  Halls.  They  seek  to  welcome  young  men  and 
young  women  from  every  sect  and  every  church.  They  do  not  wish 
in  any  shape  or  form  to  offend  the  feelings  or  the  views  of  the 
Roman  Catholic,  or  the  Presbyterian,  or  the  Methodist,  or  the 
Lutheran.  No  person's  views  on  such  matters  are  ever  called  for  or 
discussed.  The  institution  is  neither  for  nor  against  any  form  of 
church. 

They  have  in  their  various  branches  of  the  four  clubs  upwards  of 
three  hundred  members.  This  does  not  include  the  membership  of 
the  club  at  Leclaire,  111.,  nor  that  of  the  Stationary  P:ngineers 
Brotherhood.  But  when  we  realize  what  it  means  to  inspire  that 
number  of  wage-earning,  hard  working  young  men  and  young 
women  with  a  care  to  improve  and  educate  themselves  by  an  instruc- 
tive use  of  their  leisure  evenings,  it  will  be  appreciated  what  may 
ultimately  come  from  these  wage  earner's  Self-Culture  Halls 
scattered  over  the  city  of  St.  Louis. 

These  is  now  being  organized  for  these  purposes  a  separate  cor- 
poration with  the  following  Board  of  Trustees:  Chas.  Nagel,  Adam 


—  21  — 

Boeck,  C.  H.  Huttig,  E.  N.  Plank,  W.  L.  Sheldon,  I.  W,  Morton, 
Jas.  Taussig,  A.  L.  Berry,  Geo.  D.  Barnard,  N.  O.  Nelson  and 
Jacob  Furth.  President,  Chas.  Nagel;  Treasurer,  N.  O.  Nelson; 
Secretary,  C.  H.  Huttig. 


DOMESTIC    ECONOMY   SCHOOLS. 

A  special  kind  of  work  for  the  young  girls,  daughters  of  the 
mechanics  and  wage-earners,  was  begun  three  years  ago,  and  has 
developed  into  what  is  known  a:<  the  Domestic  Economy  Schools. 
They  are  an  institution  probably  unique  in  their  kind  anywhere  in 

this  country. 

They  have  sought  to  teach  all  the  elements  that  go  to  make  a 
home.  They  might  be  called  "  Housekeeping  Schools."  The 
young  girls  come  together  Saturday  mornings  or  Saturday  after- 
noons. There  are  four  of  these  schools  giving  instruction  to  about 
two  hundred,  girls.  They  hold  their  session  at  the  headquarters  of 
the  Self-CulLure  Clubs. 

They  give  lessons,  for  example,  in  laundry  work.  The  children 
wash  and  iron  under  the  instructions  of  their  teacher.  They  cook, 
set  the  table,  eat  together,  wash  dishes  and  put  them  away ;  they 
sweep  the  rooms,  clean  the  lamps,  and  make  fires.  They  have  les- 
sons also,  in  all  the  various  kinds  of  sewing.  Whatever  is  included 
in  taking  care  of  a  home,  is  taught  in  these  classes.  They  not  only 
learn  how  it  is  done,  but  they  do  it  there  themselves. 

What  gives  the  charm  to  the  work  among  the  girls,  is  the  interest 
awakened  in  them  through  the  knowledge  they  get  of  what  it  means. 
Poetry  is  thrown  into  the  menial  task  of  making  a  fire,  when  at  the 
same  time  they  learn  about  the  match  that  is  used  to  kindle  it,  and 
how  the  coal  was  formed  that  they  put  into  the  fire.  They  are  told 
how  the  match  is  made,  where  the  wood  comes  from,  what  materials 


—  22  — 

are  used,  and  how  many  different  persons  are  employed  in  the  manu- 
facture of  every  single  match.  When  they  are  washing  the  tumblers 
they  learn  everything  about  the  making  of  glass.  When  they  are 
setting  the  table,  they  are  told  all  about  the  different  kind  of  por- 
celain. If  they  pick  up  a  napkin,  they  inquire  about  the  difference 
between  cotton  and  linen,  where  the  materials  come  from,  how  they 
grow,  and  what  it  costs  to  manufacture  the  cloth.  They  have  also 
a  great  many  songs  and  they  sing  them  while  there  at  work  together. 
It  has  been  found  that  the  young  girls  take  the  keenest  delight  in 
doing  the  very  kind  of  work  which  they  had  formerly  looked  upon 
as  the  most  irksome  drudgery.  The  work  of  the  Domestic  Economy 
School  has  been  under  the  supervision  of  Mrs.  W.  E.  Fischel  and 
her  assistants,  who  have  gratuitously  devoted  their  time  to  this  work, 
with  great  ability  and  eminent  success. 


COLORED  MEN'S  SELF-HELP  CLUB. 


Another  institution  of  a  somewhat  unique  character  which  has 
grown  up  recently  through  the  influence  of  the  Ethical  Society,  is 
a  Colored  Men's  Self-Help  Club.  It  was  organized  by  one  of  the 
Principals  of  the  Public  Schools.  They  have  quite  a  large  mem- 
bership. The  main  idea  underlying  their  plan  is  to  encourage 
that  race  to  look  to  themselves  for  the  advancement  of  their  cause, 
instead  of  constantly  appealing  to  the  white  race  for  assistance. 
They  hold  meetings  once  in  two  weeks  at  Central  Turner  Hall,  and 
have  lectures  on  a  variety  of  subjects.  One  most  interesting  feature 
as  a  part  of  their  work  is  their  savings  fund.  Each  man  brings 
what  he  has  laid  by  during  the  previous  fourteen  days.  Then  the 
sum  is  deposited  for  them  in  the  savings  bank.  They  manage  the 
club  entirely  on  their  own  responsibility. 


—  23  — 


POPULAR  SCIENCE  LECTURES. 

The  Ethical  Society  has  sought  to  awaken  interest  on  the  part  of 
the  public  not  only  in  economics  and  social  reform,  but  also  in  the 
study  of  Popular  Science  as  connected  so  closely  with  the  spirit  of 
religion.  This  last  season  for  the  first  time  they  arranged  a  course 
of  such  lectures,  and  had  them  given  on  Sunday  afternoons  at  the 
Grand  Opera  House.  The  admission  was  not  altogether  free.  It 
was  decided  to  charge  the  sum  of  fifty  cents  for  the  four  lectures, 
and  in  that  way  to  cover  all  necessary  expenses.  The  lectures  were 
given  by  the  leading  men  in  their  respective  departments  in  the  city. 
The  following  was  the  list  of  subjects : 


SUNDAY  AFTERNOON  POPULAR  SCIENCE  LECTURE  COURSE, 


Feb.  5th  — "How  the  Planets  and  the  Sun  look  through  the 
Telescope,"  Prof.  H.  S.  Pritchett. 

Feb.  12th —  "  What  can  be  seen  through  a  Microscope,*'  Prof. 
H.  M.  Whelpley. 

Feb.  19th  —  "The  Wonders  of  Electricity,"  Prof.  F.  E.  Nipher. 

March  5th—  "The  Grand  Canon  of  the  Colorado,"  Prof.  Wm. 
B.  Potter. 

The  attendance  was  most  satisfactory.  It  averaged  from  six 
hundred  to  one  thousand  people.  Altogether  about  twelve  hundred 
course  tickets  were  sold.  As  it  was  a  new  experiment  in  the  city 
the  result  was  most  satisfactory.  It  is  hoped  that  such  a  Sunday 
afternoon  Popular  Science  Lecture  Course  of  an  educational  char- 
acter may  now  become  a  permanent  feature  in  St.  Louis. 


—  24 


WHAT  ATTITUDE  DOES  THE   ETHICAL  SOCIETY  TAKE  TO  THESE 
VARIOUS  EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS. 

The  Ethical  Society  does  not  claim  any  control  or  authority  over 
these  various  clubs,  schools  and  educational  institutions.  It  does 
not  seek  to  teach  its  views  on  religion  in  any  shape  or  form  at  the 
schools  or  clubs  of  Self-Culture  Hall.  Its  practical  work  has  been 
simply  to  develop  and  encourage  higher  forms  of  education.  What 
it  does  is  simply  to  initiate  these  undertakings.  And  that  is  mainly 
what  is  meant  by  saying  that  they  are  "  under  the  auspices  of  the 
p]thical  Society."  When  people  observe  that  at  any  of  the  clubs  or 
schools  any  effort  is  made  to  influence  the  religious  views  of  the  per- 
sons there,  they  are  especially  asked  to  make  complaint.  The  Ethical 
Society  wishes  simply  in  its  practical  work  to  put  itself  forward  as  an 
agent  for  higher  self-culture  and  broader  self-improvement.  These 
various  institutions  have  their  separate  committees  of  mana2e- 
ment.  They  are  described  as  the  work  of  the  Ethical  Society 
only  in  the  sense  that  this  Society  was  the  agent  to  start  the  work 
and  foster  its  grovvth.  But  the  Ethical  Society  does  not  wish  to 
assume  definite  control  over  those  institutions,  but  simply  tries  to 
preserve  them  along  the  lines  in  which  they  were  started,  and  to 
keep  them  strict  in  their  neutrality  on  questions  connected  with 
religion. 


GENERAL  WORK  OF  THE  LECTURER. 

The  Ethical  Society  has  sought  to  be  a  city  institution,  and  not  to 
be  a  church.  What  holds  it  together  is  the  practical  work  and  the 
services  on  Sunday  morning.  The  lecturer  seeks  to  connect  himself 
with  the  various  reform  efforts  going  on  in  the  city.     He   is   called 


—  25  — 

upon  to  say  the  last  words  at  the  grave.     To  a  degree  he  has  to  do 
the  work  of  a  clergyman. 

Then,  too,  he  is  invited  to  speak  before  numerous  clubs  and 
numerous  societies.  But  wherever  he  goes,  whatever  he  does,  it  is 
strictly  in  the  line  of  his  work  as  an  ethical  teacher. 


THE  ASSOCIATE  LECTURESHir. 

A  new  and  important  feature  in  the  work  of  the  Ethical  Society 
was  begun  two  years  ago,  by  taking  steps  for  having  associate  lec- 
turers of  the  society.     These  men  are  to  be  selected  for  special  kinds 
of  practical  work  in  the  city.     For  example,  it  proved  very  impor- 
tant that  there  should  be    a  special  leader   and    director  for   the 
numerous  self-culture  clubs.     In  Mr.  E.  N.  Plank  we  found  a  gentle- 
man who  proved  himself  to  be  remarkably  well  adapted  to  that  kind 
of  work.     He  was  recognized  to  be  so  efficient  a  helper  and  leader 
that  it  was  decided  to  make  him  an  associate  lecturer  of  the  Ethical 
Society,    so  that    he   might  give    up   his   present    occupation    and 
devote    practically   his    whole    time    to    these    educational   efforts 
among  wage-earners  of  St.  Louis.     He  was  elected  to  this  position 
a  year  ago,  has  been  residing  at  the  headquarters  of  those  clubs 
at  Self-Culture  Hall,  and   has  done  excellent  work.     He  has  also 
been   an   assistant   of    the   regular   lecturer   of   the  society  in   the 
other  educational  efforts  put  forward  at  various  times  in  the  city. 
He  holds  his  position  mainly  in  order  to  be  an  educational  force 
among  the  wage- earning  class. 

Ultimately  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  Ethical  Society  may  have 
several  such  associate  lecturers,  who  may  be  able  to  devote  their 
energies  each  to  some  one  special  branch  of  work  initiated  by  the 
Society. 


if!l 


—  2(5  — 


HOW   THE  EXPENSES  ARE   MET. 

The  Ethical  Society  is  supported  by  the  voluntary  contributions 
of  its  members,  or  from  those  who  are  interested  in  seeing  it  do  its 
work  in  St.  Louis.  It  has  no  annual  dues.  The  various  institutions 
begun  under  its  auspices  have  had  a  separate  financial  management. 
The  means  by  which  to  conduct  the  work  have  been  raised  through 
public  enterprise.  With  such  limited  means  much  has  been  accom- 
plished. The  success  attained  demands  and  spurs  us  to  accom- 
plish much  more  in  the  immediate  future.  To  do  this,  larger 
means  are  needed.  We  shall  endeavor  to  place  the  Society 
upon  a  firmer  and  more  permanent  financial  basis.  Our  success 
in  that  respect  will  depend  upon  the  responses  of  our  members  and 
friends  to  our  needs. 

THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

By  Robert  Moore, 

Chairman. 


ill 


